Castration, life imprisonment, death penalty: what can be done with pedophiles?

The rape of minors, lost childhoods and pedophilia are again on the public agenda. Last week, after reports that a 38-year-old relative in Namangan had raped a seven-year-old girl, it emerged that a pedophile who had been sentenced to 16 years in prison the day before escaped from a colony in Ahangaran and assaulted a third-grade girl. He was apprehended the same day. Neither of these men committed such crimes for the first time. The rising frequency of these offences is deeply worrying and provokes public anger.

Following the horrific Namangan case, some Uzbek lawmakers began calling for life imprisonment for pedophiles. Dilnoza Azizova, a deputy from the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party, said it is time to impose a severe penalty — life imprisonment — for such crimes.

“We have seen yet again that there should be no question of pardon, leniency or ‘good behaviour’ for such criminals,” Azizova said.

Dilmurod Ismailov, a deputy from the Adolat Social Democratic Party, argued that life imprisonment should be introduced for people who sexually assault children, and that mechanisms must be established to prevent sentence reductions, parole, or conversion to alternative punishments for repeat offenders.

So how can society isolate these “mistakes of nature” that pose a grave threat to children’s wellbeing and psychological health? Our neighbours appear to be moving faster: Kyrgyzstan may introduce the death penalty for pedophiles, while Kazakhstan applies chemical castration in some cases. Are the penalties used in Uzbekistan adequate? Should we follow neighbouring examples? We asked Uzbek citizens for their views.

Most respondents offered radical answers on suitable punishments for pedophiles. “Death. There is no other way. That’s for those without conscience,” one respondent said. Another said, “I think the death penalty should be imposed.” “They should be shot; they are of no use to the world,” said a third. Another insisted they should be kept away from society, and if that is impossible, executed.

“They are destroying the upbringing of children and young people. We have seen such things even in apartment buildings. I live in the 6th block and we had a similar incident. A young man did this and everyone condemned him,” one respondent said.

Writer and public figure Olmas Temur recalled an incident two years ago in Khorezm region in which three minors from a family-type care home were reportedly forced into sexual relations with regional officials. At the time, he said pedophiles should be castrated, describing the measure as harsher than the death penalty.

“It would be better if they killed themselves, tormented by pangs of conscience. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t choose the death penalty; I would choose castration, which I consider worse than death,” said a survey participant.

The full survey and extended interviews can be watched in the video player above or on QALAMPIR.UZ’s YouTube channel.